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11 Countries That Are Not Recognized By Other Countries

International relations between countries is a very complicated topic. Not all countries are members of the United Nations and being a member is not a requirement for having an independent nation or state.

Furthermore, countries that are members of the UN are not obliged to recognize each other and there are many examples of this. Even more, two countries that don't recognize each other can still have trade relationships, direct flights, and compete in sports.

Below is a list of countries that are not recognized by at least one other country in the world.

South Korea

South Korea is recognized by all countries of the world except for one: North Korea. The two countries split in 1945 and since then they both claim ownership of Korea, north and south, and refuse to acknowledge each other.

North Korea

In addition to South Korea, three more countries do not recognize North Korea as an independent state. The three countries are Japan, France, and Taiwan.

China

A total of 17 countries do not recognize China as country.

Back story

China has been divided since the 1940s into two parts: the PRC (the People's Republic of China, known simply as China) and the ROC (the Republic of China, better known as Taiwan).

The United Nations recognized Taiwan as the sole representative of the whole of China until 1971, when it was replaced by the much bigger and influential PRC, or simply China. Both Taiwan and China claim the entirety of China and don't recognize each other's authority.

Most countries of the world decided to acknowledge the bigger PRC (simply China) but 15 countries have taken Taiwan's side and hence don't acknowledge PRC's claim on China. Those countries are: Paraguay, Belize, Saint Lucia, Haiti, Saint Vincent, Marshall Islands, Honduras, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts, Guatemala, Palau, Narua, Eswatini Tuvalu, and Vatican City.

Interestingly, Bhutan does not recognize either one of them. Being under the influence of India, Bhutan is the only country in the world that does not recognize China in any shape or form.

Taiwan

Taiwan is not a member of the UN and it is officially recognized by 15 countries only but maintains unofficial relationships with more than 60 countries around the world thanks to its strong economy and influence.

Many countries around the world have no political relations with Taiwan but have trade deals with them.

The only 15 countries that acknowledge Taiwan as a full country are the same ones that don't recognize China, mentioned above: Paraguay, Belize, Saint Lucia, Haiti, Saint Vincent, Marshall Islands, Honduras, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts, Guatemala, Palau, Narua, Eswatini Tuvalu, and Vatican City.

Republic of Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus is a full UN member state that is not recognized by two other countries, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The island of Cyprus has a mixed ethnic population comprising primarily Greek and Turkish. If you didn't know this already, Greece and Turkey were never particularly friendly to each other.

In 1974, citizens of Greek decedent tried to reunite the country with Greece, Turkey intervened and set up the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The island of Cyprus has been split ever since. Each side claims full ownership over the island.

In return, the Republic of Cyprus does not recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognized by one country, Turkey, which makes it the least recognized country in the world.

Armenia

Armenia is recognized by every country in the world except Pakistan. The reason for this is that when the "Nagorno-Karabakh" conflict started between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Pakistan sided with its ally Azerbaijan and considered the Armenianian concurring of the region an unjust forced act.

As a result of this, Pakistan refuses to acknowledge Armenia as a country, which is rather weird given the fact that Azerbaijan itself, one of the two parties directly involved in the conflict, recognizes Armenia.

Armenia, in their attempt to oppose Pakistan, decided to side with India in the Kashmir conflict.

Kosovo

Kosovo was separated from Serbia in 2008. Serbia never recognized Kosovo as an independent state and continues to consider it a rebellious territory.

A total of 97 UN members recognize Kosovo as an independent country. Many countries with separatist groups like Spain do not recognize Kosovo so that not to encourage separatist movements anywhere.

Western Sahara

In 1975, Spain relinquished the Western Sahara region in Africa. Morocco invaded the territory and claimed it as part of Morroco. A long conflict emerged and continues till today. Morroco insists that Western Sahara is part of Morroco while opposition movements in the region refuse that claim.

Western Sahara is only recognized by 43 UN state members. The rest of the world countries are undecided about the matter. The United States publicly sides with Morroco claims and does not recognize Western Sahara.

Palestine

Palestine is not a full member of the United Nations but holds the position of an observer state. Palestine is recognized as a fully-fledged independent state by 138 UN members.

Israel

A total of 28 countries don't recognize Israel as a state. Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Algeria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Yemen, Venezuela, North Korea, Niger, Mali, Syria, Somalia, Tunisia, Cuba, Libya, Lebanon, Oman, Kuwait, Martinique, Comoros, Brunai, Maldives, Seychelles.